I got an email yesterday from Donna who asked if I had a recipe that used leftover chili and it dawned on me that I hadn't ever posted the vegetarian chili shepherd's pie I included in the second book.

This recipe first has you make some chili, but if you made 3 crockpots-worth of chili for Father's Day weekend, definitely feel free to use that as the filling!

Use a 4-quart slow cooker. Drain and rinse the beans, and add to the crockpot. Add corn and diced onion. Pour in the tomato sauce, and add cumin, salt, pepper. Stir well to combine. Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top.

Squish the 2 cups of mashed potatoes down on your chili with the back of a wooden spoon. Now dust with the smoked paprika.

Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, or on high for 3-4. Uncover the slow cooker near serving time and let cook uncovered on high for 20-30 minutes to cook away any collected condensation. The potatoes will brown on top a tiny bit and begin to pull from the sides.

The Verdict.

This is a fantastic was to either use up already-made chili, or clean out your pantry! The touch of smoked paprika at the end is my favorite part, it gives a bit of something special to the mashed potatoes. If you'd like a traditional shepherd's pie (well, sort of traditional. you'd need to use ground lamb to make it really truly traditional), here's a recipe for you.

I'm getting an awful lot of questions about the sponsored posts. No, I will not do only sponsored posts from now on. The timing with the Coca-Cola event and the Philadelphia cream cheese posts was/is unfortunate--and I can see how it would look that way. I spend a lot of time on the internet, and need to compensate myself for the time spent.

I’m in the midst of a new site redesign (nothing will change, but it will all be different. don’t freak out.) and would like to start an everyone-is-included blog/website roll. If you have a site that you’d like included and you’re a REAL person and not some spam monster, please email me at contact@stephanieodea.com (I’m the contact!) with the subject line: blogroll and I’ll get you on the list. This roll will constantly be updated—it’s time we reach out and support one another.

23 comments:

Honey, it's your blog, its your career, you do whatever you want and I for one will be grateful for whatever recipes you try out and modify and then publish for us! I have loved every single one that I have tried so far.

I'm all about the sponsored posts...you get paid for the work you do (and I recognize it's work!) and you show me some ways to use ingredients I already buy anyway! Who doesn't have a block of cream cheese in their fridge, Philly or store brand or otherwise? So anyway...props to you for making this your career, and doing it while having time for your kids and husband.

Oh, there is always someone in the crowd who is jealous, who cares if it is a sponored post! I've got some of the cream cheese stuff in my crock-pot right now with some chicken and it sure is smelling good!

do whatever you need to do to keep those golden crock pots fired up. my husband and i love your recipes- we use them to cook multiple meals, eating once and freezing the rest in a seal-a-meal. you made it so we could eat well, despite a shoestring budget. thank you again for all your nutritious and delish meal ideas!

I feel compelled to throw my .02 in as well and agree with the above posters! I love what you do and all that you give to us and am grateful to you for that. When I pull out the crockpot (at least once a week) I go straight to your site to figure out what I'm going to make. I don't have to look anywhere besides your blog or your book. You doing what you do makes my life easier! Seriously, how awesome is that?

I love your blog and I made the Philly Cooking Creme Chicken Tacos last night and they rock! My husband practically licked the plate clean and went back for thirds. Thanks for such a great site, great recipes and if you can get sponsors- more power to you! So happy to have found you.

Go on with your bad, sponsored self! If you can figure out some way to eek out some income from your blog, even it is only enough to bankroll a family trip to the ice cream shop, I say go for it. I'll still read your sponsored posts and I have to tell you, the first cookbook rarely leaves my kitchen counter. It has a place of honor right near my crockpot :)

I've been reading (and recommending) your blog since the beginning and have to say that, thanks to you, my family eats pretty darn well. This pie recipe is going on next week's menu - I'm sure my husband will thank you that he finally get's a "manly meal".

I am LOVING the sponsored posts. Philly cooking creme has opened up so many opportunities in our gluten free family. And I hadn't even thought about using it until I saw it on here. THANK YOU, for helping me out, nearly daily, as I am able to provide healthful, gluten free, meals for my family that don't rob me of precious time and money! I'm a Mama of 3 (number 4 will be here in a month) and I literally have lifted you up in prayer, thanking God for you and for this blog (and your books)! THANK YOU!

I just love the idea of this recipe. I have a wonderful recipe for vegetarian/vegan chili and this would just go perfectly with that. I also LOVE shepherd's pie! Will definitely try this. Thanks so much.

I don't know if there is a way to contact me to let me know if you respond to this, but I couldn't find how many this recipe serves. I made it, it looks like it serves an awful lot (and it really looks and smells great) but I'm on weight watchers and want to factor in my point value so I can decide what needs to be limited in the day to enjoy this (or how much is a good portion...I'm really just learning). Thanks for your help! :o)

I just wanted to say thanks for all the work you do! I have made a ton of your recipes and decided that it was worth it to buy both of your slow cooker recipe books to compensate you for the great food you've helped me to make.